Despite being knocked out of the World Cup on penalties by Serbia, Portugal is still in the hunt for the tournament. With three games to go, they sit second in Group B, one point ahead of Serbia. Having played a game more, they could still sneak into the competition. Cristiano Ronaldo is the star player for Portugal, but he may not be able to help his side reach the finals without him.
This tournament is made up of 12 European nations competing for three places in the World Cup next year. Teams are split into two brackets with four teams in each. The top two teams in each bracket will be the ones to advance. Portugal qualified for the 2014 World Cup through a playoff, but its team had to travel to a neutral site in Turin because of restrictions related to coronavirus. Azerbaijan's Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal by fumbling the ball into his own net.
In the 2014 World Cup, Portugal qualified by defeating Sweden in a play-off. The format was based on two-match series. However, the Portuguese team managed to win this game in extra time despite a late armbar from Cristiano Ronaldo. In the World Cup qualifiers - Portugal vs Serbia, it's up to the Portuguese team to decide the winner. It could be a very interesting tournament, and there's a lot at stake!
Serbia is the second team to reach the World Cup and will be playing in a neutral venue. They will play in Turin because of travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus. Their probable XI includes Rui Patricio and Alves. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN. If Portugal qualify, they'll be one of the finalist teams. It will be up to them to decide who they'll play in the finals.
Despite Portugal's recent win over Ireland, they must win this match to progress to the World Cup. After all, they've already qualified for Euro 2024, so a win against Serbia would be a huge boost for Stephen Kenny's side. A win is essential for Portugal, as they don't want to risk going into a playoff. And after a tight match, both teams will be desperate to avoid falling into the playoffs.
After a thrilling game, Portugal's next challenge is to win their World Cup qualifiers against Serbia. A win against Serbia will determine whether the team goes through to the finals and ultimately to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The game will also be important for the team's ranking. The final match will determine which teams advance to the World Championship. With a victory, a group will be promoted. By advancing, a team must qualify for every knockout round.